Tabaquite community walks for peace, prayer

BAVINA SOOKDEO

In recent times, the once quiet community of Tabaquite has been rattled by a series of violent incidents. The most recent took place on October 15, when 20-year-old construction worker Christopher Ricardo “Ricky” Joseph was killed after gunmen opened fire at a house along Caparo Valley Brasso Road.

Days later, another victim of the same shooting, 16-year-old Darius Shadrack – a form three student of Tabaquite Secondary School – succumbed to his injuries around 3.30 am. He was among four young men attacked at an unfinished structure on the same compound.

As a result of loss and pain, members of the Tabaquite community took to the streets on November 2 to proclaim a message of hope, unity and healing as the The Tabaquite Village Council hosted a Peace and Prayer Walk, starting at the Tabaquite Secondary School and ending at the Tabaquite Recreation Ground. The event began at 4 pm.

Reena Donna De Leon, a teacher and member of the council, explained that the walk was about more than just prayer – it was about transformation. “The purpose of this peace prayer walk was to take to the street and march throughout proclaiming the word of God and positive reinforcements to help change the mindset of individuals who may be contemplating acts of violence,” she said. “It’s really to foster community development, coming together as one, to say that we are stepping out to say no to violence. Through God all things are possible.”

De Leon first conceived the idea for the walk a year ago, after witnessing tragedy in her own community. As a mother of two sons, she grew increasingly concerned about the environment in which they were growing up and feared for their safety. “Two persons that I know very well were in an altercation where one was murdered,” she shared. “I knew both of them and I knew things could have gone another way if better judgment had been made. It made me realise that sometimes our mindsets and the decisions we make can change everything. So I decided to do this prayer walk. When God talked to me, he said, ‘If you want things done, pray about it – pray without ceasing.’”

Partnering with pastor Joel Chryskarsten of Agape Love Chapel, Guaracara, De Leon brought the idea to life. This year’s walk drew more than 100 participants – half of them youth. “The greater outcome for me,” De Leon said, “is that half of the crowd were youth – and that’s who we want to reach. The elderly came out too, which is important because they are needed as guides for these young people.”

The walk united religious groups, schools and community organisations from Guaracara to Brasso, including farmers, sporting teams and women’s and men’s groups. De Leon noted that while the business community’s involvement could be stronger, the event successfully broke barriers among different faiths and age groups. “We reached out to everyone,” she said. “Muslims, Hindus, Christians – all came together. We were appreciative that the barriers were broken, especially the religious ones.”

Beyond prayer, the initiative also seeks tangible outcomes for community growth. “One of our goals is to advocate for extended hours at the Tabaquite Health Centre because if anything happens to anyone at night, it is a long drive to get help,” De Leon explained. “And I’m also advocating for a Servol Life Centre in our community – to give our youth skills training and alleviate that sense of idleness. Many children are skill-based rather than academic, and we want to give them opportunities to build their future.”

Although turnout could have been higher, De Leon considers the event a success and a foundation for continued work. “We accomplished our goals,” she said. “It’s a work in progress, but the effectiveness was clear. The youth came out, and that means change is possible.”

The council intends for the walk to become a permanent fixture. “This is an ongoing event because crime is not going to stop anytime soon,” De Leon said. “There are still young people who need nurturing, still rogue elements that need guidance. God is always present and we need to proclaim that more in our communities.”

Asked what message she would like to send out to the people of Tabaquite, she said, “We need God as our foundation. We need to go back to moral stability, to respect for human dignity and human life. Families must start to operate as one – let the church be in your home, let that bond of love be strong. Charity begins at home and ends abroad. If we have unity in our families, we will have unity in our community.” De Leon, who is Catholic, says she hopes “we can all become pilgrims of hope.”